What type of sushi consists of a fried tofu pouch filled with sushi rice?

What type of sushi consists of a fried tofu pouch filled with sushi rice? Inari sushi is the answer.

Inari sushi, also called inarizushi or inari-zushi, is made by filling seasoned pockets of fried tofu with vinegared sushi rice. The tofu pouch is usually abura-age, a thin sheet of tofu that has been deep-fried and then simmered in a sweet-savory broth commonly flavored with soy sauce and sugar. Its soft, porous texture absorbs the seasoning.

The name comes from Inari, the Shinto kami associated with rice, agriculture, and prosperity. Foxes are traditionally regarded as Inari’s messengers, and folklore connects them with fried tofu, helping explain the dish’s name. Inari sushi is often sold in pairs or arranged in lunch boxes and festival foods.

It is easy to confuse inari sushi with maki or nigiri. Nigiri places a topping on hand-pressed rice, while temaki is a cone-shaped hand roll wrapped in nori. Gunkan maki is a rice base surrounded by nori to hold loose toppings; inari uses tofu as the edible pouch instead.